Chapter 21: Summary, Analysis, and Study Notes
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In October 2017, Shea meets private investigator Michael De Vos at a corner bar after an awkward dinner with Esther. She is nervous but recognizes him from a photograph. They sit across from each other, and Michael orders a beer while Shea sips a soda with lemon. Shea asks why he left police work. Michael explains that he joined to please his father and uncle, both Claire Lake cops, but hated the job—he is a research and puzzle person, not someone who can handle the physical and emotional demands of being a beat cop. He quit and now does insurance work, but he takes Shea's assignments because they feel like real detective work, especially the Lady Killer case.
Shea learns that Michael's father was present at Beth Greer's arrest and believed her guilty, referring to her as a murdering whore. His uncle Mike, also a cop, missed the height of the Lady Killer case due to a back injury but also believed Beth was guilty, theorizing that even if she didn't commit the murders, she knew who did. Michael reveals that his father died at forty-eight from alcoholism and his uncle died the previous year. Shea asks about his research on Linwood Street properties, and Michael says it's challenging to determine what was in every building in 1951, especially looking for a private mental hospital. He encourages Shea to see herself as a writer, noting he has read the Book of Cold Cases. Shea nearly tells him she is Girl A, but holds back, thinking about the trauma and the fact that everyone keeps secrets.
Key Events
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Shea and Michael meet in person for the first time.
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Michael explains why he left police work and his current job.
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Shea learns that Michael's father and uncle were Claire Lake cops and their views on Beth Greer.
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Michael reveals his father's death from alcoholism and his uncle's recent death.
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Shea asks about the Linwood Street research; Michael says it's difficult.
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Michael affirms Shea's identity as a writer.
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Shea almost confesses to being Girl A but decides not to.
Character Development
This chapter deepens both Shea and Michael as characters. Shea's internal conflict is central: she is drawn to Michael, feels a connection, and even considers revealing her traumatic past as Girl A. Yet she pulls back, rationalizing that Michael isn't telling her everything either. This moment shows her fear of vulnerability and her habit of using other people's secrets to justify her own silence. It also highlights her growth—she begins to accept that she might be a writer, thanks to Michael's validation, even though she still struggles with self-doubt.
Michael is fleshed out through his family history. He carries the weight of his father's and uncle's beliefs about Beth, and his decision to leave police work was a rejection of that legacy. He is portrayed as a thoughtful, research-oriented man who finds meaning in the Lady Killer case, not just as a job but as a personal puzzle. His willingness to work without pay and his encouragement of Shea suggest a genuine investment in the truth, even as he withholds his own secrets.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Power imbalance: Shea recalls Beth's advice about power imbalances, which she applies to her own situation with Michael. She feels the need to channel Beth's confidence, but she also recognizes the imbalance in their relationship—she knows more about him than he knows about her.
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Secrecy: Both Shea and Michael keep secrets. Shea hides her identity as Girl A, while Michael withholds details about his family's involvement. The chapter reinforces that everyone has hidden truths.
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Family legacy: Michael's career choices and his father's and uncle's beliefs about Beth show how family expectations and judgments shape a person's path.
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Misogyny: Michael's father's crude description of Beth reflects the sexist attitudes that influenced the investigation and public perception of her.
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Covering for others: Uncle Mike's theory that Beth knew the killer suggests a motif of covering for someone else's crimes, which ties into Shea's own secret.
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Identity: Shea's struggle to see herself as a writer versus a blogger mirrors her larger struggle with her past and who she is now.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal for the relationship between Shea and Michael, moving them from phone calls to a face-to-face meeting. It provides crucial background on the police perspective of the Lady Killer case, showing how deeply entrenched the belief in Beth's guilt was among law enforcement. Michael's family history adds a personal layer to the investigation, making the case more immediate. The chapter also heightens the tension around Shea's secret: she comes close to confessing but doesn't, leaving the reader to wonder when and how the truth will emerge. Finally, Michael's affirmation of Shea as a writer is a turning point in her self-perception, setting up her continued involvement in the case.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Shea decide not to tell Michael that she is Girl A?
Shea feels that the moment isn't right—they are just meeting in person, and she is trying something new. She also notices that Michael isn't telling her everything about himself, so she rationalizes that everyone keeps secrets, at least for a while. This allows her to avoid confronting her trauma directly.
2. What does Michael's father's opinion of Beth reveal about the police bias in the case?
His father's crude language—calling Beth a murdering whore—shows a deep-seated misogyny and a prejudgment that likely influenced how the investigation was conducted. It suggests that the police were not objective and that Beth was already condemned in their eyes before any trial.
3. How does Michael's view of Shea as a writer contrast with her own self-image?
Michael sees Shea as a legitimate writer because he has read the Book of Cold Cases and recognizes her skill. Shea, however, thinks of herself as just a blogger with a strange hobby. Michael's external validation helps her begin to accept her identity as a writer, which is a step toward owning her voice and her story.
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